Michael O'Connor on the Royal Bride's Jewelry

Jewelry Expert Michael O'Connor Comments on Kate Middleton's Wedding Jewelry:
“The unique blend of modern, vintage and heirloom pieces of platinum jewelry from both her family and from William's family chosen by Kate illustrate the couple's desire to marry today's elements with the durability and traditions of yesterday. 

The choice of the platinum and diamond Halo tiara by Cartier, originally designed for the Queen Mother and then handed down to the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) combined with newer pieces such as the platinum and diamond pear shaped drop earrings designed by Robinson Pelham (a present from Kate's parents), and the iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring, once owned by Princess Diana, illustrate the bond of family and the lifetime legacy that quality platinum jewelry provides. Kate’s jewelry style truly exemplifies that of a modern yet sophisticated royal bride.” 




To view the latest platinum wedding jewelry designs, visit www.preciousplatinum.com/designgallery 

Royal Wedding Rumors - Some True- Some Not!

It's 3am and I am just giving you the "secret deets"

The dress - Sara Burton for Alexander McQueen!

I have to say that I have a new found respect for Ms Burton - to turn out all the really trendy -edgy fashion expected by the fans of the late Alexander Mc Queen and to then turn around and put out what is sure to be a classic wedding look for decades!  Kudo Sara Burton...

via Getty Images

The Tiara!  the Scroll Tiara or Halo Tiara by Cartier...
from the Official Wedding page:

The veil is held in place by a Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by The Queen.  The ‘halo’ tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and was purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King.  The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother on the occasion of her 18th birthday. 

The Bride’s earrings, by Robinson Pelham, are diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.  Inspiration for the design comes from the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves.  The earrings were made to echo the tiara.  The earrings were a personal gift to the Bride from her parents for her Wedding Day.

This tiara seems to have a tradition of being lent to royal ladies until they receive a tiara of their own.  Elizabeth's sister Princess Margaret wore it until she was given the Art Deco Fan Tiara by the Queen Mother...then Princess Anne borrowed the Scroll until she was given the Greek Key Meander Tiara.  So - it leads one to wonder if Kate will be presented with her own tiara?

One more additional piece of jewelry that was so sentimental - the Queen wore sunshine yellow and Queen Mary's True Lover's Knot Brooch

So - Good Night...there is more here:  http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/blog/2011/April/29/The-Wedding-Dress--Bridesmaids--Dresses-and-Pages--Uniforms

JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show - AGTA GemFair - MJSA "At The Bench Live"

This Just IN...Bruno Mars to Headline

JCK's Rock The Beach!

Bruno Mars, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter best known for the smash hits “Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade,” will headline the JCK Rocks the Beach Party on Sunday, June 5 at The Beach at Mandalay Bay.  

The event begins at 9 p.m. and is open to all JCK and LUXURY badge holders, as well as all guests of the Jewelers for Children dinner.

More info: http://www.jckonline.com/2011/04/26/bruno-mars-to-headline-jck-rocks-beach 

Visit the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

Join AGTA on the Beach level in the Islander and South Pacific Ballrooms at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center June 2-7, 2011 - a new location, more exhibitors and a longer show - now open the day before JCK through the day after!

Click here to see a quick video on  the AGTA GemFair™ at the JCK Las Vegas Show

"At the Bench Live" 

  at JCK Las Vegas

June 4 - 

Using Handmade Chain in Custom Designs 

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.      

Ann Cahoon

As consumer demand for custom jewelry grows, so too are the ways in which jewelers are creating unique, personalized pieces. One method to add personalization is through the use of handmade chain. Ann Cahoon will show techniques for creating handcrafted chain to complement specific custom designs.

June 4 - 

Mythbusters: Challenging Tradition at the Bench 

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Ann Cahoon

Venerable traditions have built up regarding how bench jewelers should go about their craft. And, like all traditions, some may be true and some may be little more than myths. Join Ann Cahoon and she sets about separating hard facts from tall tales. Whether focusing on accepted procedures for equipment maintenance, the selection of tools for specific tasks, or simple safety procedures, she will challenge the traditions—and attendees will come away with new insights.

June 5 - 

New Techniques for Setting Princess-Cut Diamonds

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Joel McFadden

Princess-cut diamonds are among the most popular styles favored by consumers, but their sharp edges must be protected: Too much stress from the setting, and they could easily become damaged. Joel McFadden will demonstrate a new technique he developed that will simplify the setting process and ensure the stone’s points remain unharmed.

June 5 -

Tips for Finishing and Pre-Finishing Jewelry

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Joel McFadden

A piece of jewelry can rise and fall on the quality of its finish. Joel McFadden—renowned for the refinement of his finishing and polishing work—shows how to quickly and efficiently finish all areas of a piece to ensure everythingshines.

June 6 - 

CAD at the Bench: Tips and Tricks, Part 1

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

The rise of computer-aided design (CAD) has been a great aid to bench jewelers—if jewelers know how to use it wisely. From stone layout to making parts fit together, Jim will show inside tricks for combining handwork with CAD modeling to help the bench jeweler work faster and make better jewelry.

June 6 - 

Advanced CAD at the Bench: Tips & Tricks, Part 2

1:30 to 3 p.m.

Jim Tuttle

More tricks to help jewelers incorporate CAD to speed their production at the bench and create finely detailed pieces that would be unattainable through hand work alone.

http://www.mjsa.org/events/at_the_bench_live/atb_live_jck_las_vegas

Ganoksin Project Digitizes 40 + Historic Metalsmithing Books

The Jeweler's History Project
Ganoksin to digitize more than 40 rare historical metalsmithing
books to be available for download from it's website for $1.35 per book!
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/dba


"Jewelry History Brought Alive"

Ganoksin proudly announces a project to digitize more than 40 complete rare antique metalsmithing books. They will be available as searchable eBook pdfs for a minimal fee which will go to support the Ganoksin Project.
This project is about revealing their ancient wisdom to the modern metalsmithing community. This is a partnership project between The Ganoksin Project and Charles Lewton-Brain.

Over the last three decades we have acquired over 40 rare historical Metalsmithing books that we will make available to jewelers, goldsmiths and the metalsmithing community.

These books cover special techniques in depth like chasing, repousse, engraving, niello making, Japanese chiseling, soldering, construction, patination and metal coloring,  silversmithing and more. There are many recipes for alloys and metal surface treatments.

The manuscripts will be gradually published in a digital format over the coming months.

For the first time in history, these ancient metal tricks and recipes will be made available to the contemporary community of curious artists and metalsmiths. This information will allow the reader to apply the simple and ingenious procedures used by the jewelers of the past, long dead masters of the art of metalsmithing.

Many of the tricks and recipes described will save the maker money, as older approaches can sometimes replace modern tools.

We invite you to own the entire collection of manuscripts, and benefit from the ancient wisdom that we are presenting!

Each pdf is a full digital book of searchable text and images, with an easy access through an interactive table of contents. The cost will be $1.35 per book for a single user license which allows you to install, read and print the material on a single computer.

Dr. E. Aspler, the founder of the Ganoksin project said " I am thrilled to have Ganoksin act as a virtual custodian for this important part of metalsmithing history. I am very excited that such an important mass of information endures and that it will be easily accessible through the Ganoksin Archive. It was inspirational of Charles Lewton-Brian not to let these important, relevant texts lie fallow!"

Charles Lewton-Brain commented "This project opens an entire world for the modern maker, is a window on how goldsmiths and makers thought over a hundred years ago."

The first titles which are available for immediate download are

1. Educational Metalcraft
by P. Wylie Davidson, 1913

2. Metal-Work, Chasing and Repousse for Home Art Workers
by Frank G Jackson, 1903

3. Decoration of Metals - Chasing, Repousse and Saw Piercing
by John Harrison, 1894
Titles to be made available for download during May 2011

1. The Private Book of Useful Alloys & Memoranda by James E. Collins

2. Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Practical Receipt Book - a Workshop
Companion

Please visit Digital Antiques Books - The Jeweler's History Projectpages at

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/dba

For more information about the "The Jeweler's History Project"
please contact: Dr. E. Aspler (Hanuman) service@ganoksin.com.